Audit Objective
Determine whether Montgomery County (County) Department of Social Services (Department) officials processed Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) applications accurately and in a timely manner and whether Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP) payments are accurate, supported and for eligible individuals.
Key Findings
We reviewed 50 approved SNAP cases and 30 denied SNAP cases and determined that Department officials did not always obtain documentation needed to process SNAP applications accurately and in a timely manner. When Department officials do not obtain the required documentation and process benefit applications in a timely manner, eligible applicants may not receive the correct benefit in a timely manner. We determined:
- Department officials did not obtain required documentation that was needed to process 13 approved SNAP cases (28 percent).
- Department officials did not process nine of the approved SNAP cases (20 percent) in a timely manner. These cases were approved between one and 77 days after the 30-day requirement.
- While the 30 denied cases were accurately denied, Department officials did not process five cases (17 percent) in a timely manner. These cases were denied between one and 23 days after the 30-day requirement.
In addition, while Department officials made CCAP payments for eligible families within required timeframes, officials overpaid three child care providers (providers) a total of $7,104. The overpayments occurred because officials did not properly review the provider payments.
Recommendations
The audit report includes three recommendations to help Department officials process SNAP applications and CCAP payments accurately and in a timely manner. County officials generally agreed with our recommendations and indicated they planned to initiate corrective action.